|
 The Belgian Government has revealed China’s efforts to pressure them into asking the Dalai Lama to reconsider his planned visit to Brussels in May. As a result of this pressure, primarily in connection with the upcoming visit of a Belgian trade delegation to China, the Belgian Government made repeated requests for the Dalai Lama to cancel the visit.
The Dalai Lama will now be unable to attend the 5th International Conference of Tibet Support Groups to be held in Brussels from 11 to 14 May 2007. The Dalai Lama said that he understood the Belgian Government’s position and, in keeping with his principled approach of not wanting to inconvenience any host government in any way, had acceded to its request.
‘… A Case of Outright Bullying …’
A clear statement on China’s actions was issued by Kalon Tempa Tsering, the head of the Tibetan Government in Exile’s Department of Information and International Relations, who said:
“The Chinese government’s persistent attempts to exert pressure on small nations to restrict the movement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a case of outright bullying, gross interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state, setting an unfortunate trend in international diplomacy and undermines the efforts that have been made to create a conducive atmosphere for a just and speedy resolution of the issue of Tibet.”
While it is disappointing that the people of Belgium, as well as the conference attendees, will not be able to see or hear from the Dalai Lama in person, Kalon Tempa Tsering confirmed the Dalai Lama’s desire to avoid inconveniencing the Belgian government. He also revealed some of the factors contributing to the Dalai Lama’s decision:
“This decision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama is in accordance with his conviction that his first responsibility as a citizen of the world is to be of service to humanity. As a Buddhist monk, his second responsibility is to serve as a bridge between different religious denominations so that all religions could collectively contribute to peace and harmony. And as a Tibetan, his third responsibility is to serve the cause of Tibet and the Tibetan people.”
A Pattern of Chinese Government Behaviour
This is not the first time that China has pressured the Belgian Government over the Dalai Lama. In 2005, after similarly threatening behaviour from Chinese officials, the Belgian government requested that the Dalai Lama postpone his visit because it would coincide with a visit to China by the king of Belgium.
Nor is Belgium alone in coming under pressure from the Chinese Government - which is opposed to all foreign trips by the Tibetan leader. The Dalai Lama will be visiting Australia in June and as yet there has been no confirmation of any scheduled meetings between senior political leaders and the highly regarded Nobel Laureate.
ATC has written to Belgium’s Ambassador in Canberra expressing our dismay at the Belgian Government’s actions. View a copy of ATC’s letter.
Read Kalon Tempa Tsering’s Press Release |
News 
